Apparatus for dispensing beer



April 7, 1936. H. w. BRUENING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING BEER Filed June 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'Jzaz" 9% 6 April '7, 1936. H. W. BRUENING APPARATUS FGR DISPENSING BEER Filed June 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A My \fi% &% 0N1 I l 1/V /Y,Y/MM.NMWMMQ a um. 1|.l. KN WW a; l. 2W .m M Q M ,W A. i m W j W I/WM fl m 3d an, m g. v w y WH 4 I 4 y t w w A A M g fi/ E f a w wmfl MW 2% am, w %W QM. m 4 EN QN m -n m x x l \W Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,036,620 APPARATUS FOR msrnusmo BEER Application June 24,1935, Serial No. 28,072

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the dispensing of beer and has for its principal object the provision of a simple and inexpensive device for the satisfactory storage of the beverage and also its delivery in delectable and properly chilled condition.

In the usual dispensing apparatus for this purpose the beverage is passed through a coil in which it is chilled. Such coils are diflicult to keep clean and the effect of passage through such a coil in average condition can be readily detected by a beer drinker of discriminating taste. The present invention avoids the use of such a coil and the beer passes from the original con tainer through short conduit elements which may be readily cleansed.

Beer is ordinarily stored in the breweries in a cold conditionin order to prevent loss of flavor due to the propagation of wild yeasts and other undesirable micro-organisms. The device of the present invention maintains all the beer chilled at all times and not merely that part of it contained in the coil.

A further object is to provide a simple and convenient device in the form of a bar equipped for the easy installation of barrels of beer and the removal of the empty barrel.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, showing a bar equipped with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation taken on the inner side of the bar,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, on a substantially larger scale, and

Fig. 4 Ba fragmentary sectional view showing the conduit and fitting on a still larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, the, reference nu- I meral l designates the bar as a whole. The bar consists essentially of a cabinet which may have any desired exterior finish such as mahogany or other hardwood, but its walls comprise layers ll of highly efficient insulating board, and sheets of waterproofed paper 42 in addition to the inner and outer wooden panels l3. Within the cabinet or chamber formed by the bar is located a chilling tank l4 which is of inverted L formation extending over the inside of the front face of the bar and under the top wall or'counter. The tank extends the whole length of the bar and may be substantially filled with any suitable liquid such as water containing an appropriate anti-freeze. The tank l4 contains a series of cooling coils I! which may be supplied with any suitable refrigerant by pipe IS.

The rear or inner wall of the bar is provided with suitable openings I! which are of ample size to admit a keg or barrel I8 of beer of desired size. The openings I! are normally closed by doors l9 and 20, which may be of the same.construction as the other walls of the bar. The doors l9 and 20 may suitably be pivotally mounted on the bar by means of hinges 2| and 22 respectively.

The doors 19 are mounted to swing on a horizontal axis, the hinges 2| being located at'the bottom of the door. The door 20 is adapted to swing on a vertical axis, the hinges 22 being located at the side of the door. Upon the inner side of each door ismounted a support or bracket 23 which is adapted to support the barrel l3. Each door is and 20 overlaps-its openingl1 and the overlapping peripheral portion of the door carries a continuous compressible gasket 24, preferably in the form of a tube of live rubber.

It is to be noted that the weight of the barrel l8 of beer is sufiicient to keep the door l9 closed with the gasket 24 compressed to establish an airtight seal. In the case of the door 20, a latch 25 is provided to keep the door tightly closed. Each door carries a concave block 23 adapted to locate the barrel at the appropriate position upon the bracket 23.

Each door I! and 20 carries a spigot 21 which terminates in a nipple 28 on the inside of a door. A short piece of hose 29 is adapted to be secured to the nipple 28 by means of a clamp 30. The hose 29 is adapted to be secured by a clamp II to a horizontal nipple 32 of a conduit element 33. The conduit element 33 comprises a vertical length of plain tube 34 which is integral with a short horizontal length 35. This length 35 is connected by a'valve 36 to the nipple 32.

Modern beer barrels are provided with a metallic element 31 which defines a bung opening 38. During shipping the opening 38 is closed by a cork 39, seen floating on the surface of the beer in Fig. 3. The element 31 is provided around the opening 38 with an upstanding collar 40 provided with interrupted flanges ll adapted to cooperate with the interrupted flanges 42 at the lower end of a sleeve 43 in known manner. The sleeve 43 contains a rubber gasket 44 which is adapted to rest upon the sleeve 40. A second sleeve 45 is located within the sleeve 43 and is adapted to slide freely therein and to abut against the gasket v HHHHHHH 44, as best seen in 4'. A nipple 46 threaded into the sleeve 45 passes through an elongated vertical slot 41 in the sleeve 43. The nipple 46 contains a check valve 48 and is adapted to be connected toa hose 49 for the supply of gas under pressure to the interior of the barrel. The upper end of.the sleeve 45 overhangs the upper end of the sleeve 43 and said upper ends are threaded with oppositely directed threads. A nut element 50 provided with suitable handles cooperates with said oppositely threaded sleeve ends. It will readily be understood that the threaded ends of 'the sleeves 43 and 45 may be separated by suitable actuation of the nut, 50, and the sleeve 43 may be applied to the element 40. To do this the flange portions 42 are moved past the flange portions 4| and the sleeve 43 is rotated to bring these flange portions into alignment. Then the nut is actuated to feed the sleeve 45 downwardly to compress the gasket 44.

The upper end of the sleeve 45 is recessed to receive an annular gasket 5| and a sleeve 52 which is threaded into the upper end of said recess. The sleeve 52 is provided with a handle 53 whereby it may be actuated. When the sleeve 52 is threaded into the recess the gasket 5| is compressed and may be caused to establish gas tight contact with the length 34 of the conduit element 33 within the sleeve 45.

The lower end of the tube or pipe 34 is closed as indicated at 54. Above this closure the pipe 34 is provided with a plurality of openings 55, and abcve these openings the pipe 34 is constricted, as indicated at 56. This constriction provides resistance to the flow of beer at the lower end of the conduit element 33 and insures the delivery of the chilled beverage by the spigot 2.1 in satisfactory frothy condition. The constriction 5d is the greatest constriction thrc-ugh which the beer passes on way to the spigot 21.

' A drip pan 51 is preferably removably mounted same except for the fact that the door is mounted on each door below the spigot 21.

In operation, I open the door |9 into the position shown in dash and dot lines in Fig.3. Then I place a full barrel of beer upon the door with one end in contact with the bracket 23. I apply the sleeves 43 and 45 upon the fitting 31 and actuate the nut 50 to compress the gasket 44 in the manner described. Then, the valve 36 being closed, I enter'the lower end, of the conduit element 33 through the sleeve 45 into contact with the cork 39. I tighten the nut 52 to compress the gasket 5! against the pipe 34 and then apply 1 blows on the conduit 33 to drive the cork 39 inwardly and bring the pipe into the position within the barrel shown in Fig. 3. Then I make the nut 52 very tight. The nipple 32 is then connected to the spigot 21, the hose 49 is connected to the nipple 46 andthe door I9 is moved tov the full line position of Fig. 3. Beer may nowbe dispensed from the spigot 21.

In the case of the door 20 the operation is the on a vertical axis.

shelf. a

It is the usual practice for brewers/to deliver beer in chilled condition. If promptly stored in my improved cabinet the initial chill is preserved and maintained until the beverage is dispensed. My fittings can be simply and effectively cleaned. Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters iat- ,ent of the United States is:

separable conduit elements including a draft tube cc -nnection connecting the spigot to the interior of the barrel and physically securing the upper end of the barrel to the door and holding the barrel against displacement from said bracket.

2. A beer dispensing cabinet adapted to serve as a bar having an opening in its rear wall for the entrance of a barrel, a door normally closing said opening, hinges at the lower edge of said door, a bracket on the inner side of said door upon which the barrel rests, the weight of the barrel and its contents serving to hold the door closed, a dispensing spigot on the door, and separable ccnduit elements including a draft tube connection connecting the spigot to the interior cf the barrel and physically securing the upper end ofthe barrel to the door and holding the barrel against (hsplacement from said bracket.

3. A beer dispensing cabinet having a door opening, a .door normally closing said opening, hinges supporting said door on a vertical axis so as to open outwardly, a shelf onthe inner side of the door for supporting a barrel thereon, a spigot on the door, and separable means including a draft arm connection connecting said spigot to the interior of said barrel and physically securing the upper 'end cf the barrel to the door and holding the barrel against displacement from the 4. A beer'dispensing cabinet having a doc-r opening, a door normally closing said opening,

hinges supporting said door at its bottom edge so as to open outwardly and downwardly, a shelf on the inner side of the door for supporting a barrel of. beer thereon, a spigot on the door, and separable means including a draft arm connection connecting said spigot to the interior of said barrel and physically securing the upper end of the barrel to the door and holding the barrel against displacement from the shelf, said dc-or being adapted to open to a substantially horizontal position whereby the barrel may be readily removed and replaced.

HENRY W. BRUENING. 

